What are these little yellow and red things taking over my tank!?!

ronbis · 01/17/2010, 06:26 PM

These little (about 1mm) slug looking things completely cover my sand and live rocks. I do a water change trying to suck them up, but they come back in a matter of days. What are these things? Is there something that will eat them?

Thanks!

JonSadowsky · 01/17/2010, 06:29 PM

Get yourself some "Flatworm Exit" and follow the directions.

Jon

JGHA · 01/17/2010, 06:35 PM

They are flatworms, horrible pest. You will have to remove some manually and when you have very few left you may use flatworm exit. Dont use flat worm exit if you have many left in your tank as they release toxins when they die.

JGHA · 01/17/2010, 06:37 PM

And also yellow coris wrasse may eat them as well as mandarin gobies and pipe-fish but it is almost impossible to eradicate them using fish.

tahoe61 · 01/17/2010, 06:39 PM

You will need to do a large water change after using flatworm exit, and if you have any starfish I would remove them before tx.

d2mini · 01/17/2010, 07:32 PM

Like others said, try to remove as many as possible and then treat with flatworm exit and then a large water change. You might need more than one treatment of flatworm exit.

This article might help too.
http://www.melevsreef.com/flatworms.html

ronbis · 01/18/2010, 12:17 AM

Ugghh.. I have been reading some horror stories about getting rid of these things. I just setup a new nano with some rocks from this tank. I scrubbed them with a toothbrush but doubt I got them all. I think it should be safe to treat the nano since I know the number of flatworms will be low. The big tank is going to take some work it looks like. I will start siphoning flatworms tomorrow I guess... Thanks for the help and wish me luck!

tplummer · 01/18/2010, 01:40 PM

If you lose the battle try increasing flow. They still live in your tank but show up less..

I could never get rid of them.

01/17/2010, 06:26 PM	#1
ronbis Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Broomfield, Colorado Posts: 222	What are these little yellow and red things taking over my tank!?! These little (about 1mm) slug looking things completely cover my sand and live rocks. I do a water change trying to suck them up, but they come back in a matter of days. What are these things? Is there something that will eat them? Thanks!

01/17/2010, 06:29 PM	#2
JonSadowsky Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Stuart, FL. Posts: 80	Get yourself some "Flatworm Exit" and follow the directions. Jon __________________ Current Tank Info: 90 gal. SPS, 2x250 watt HQI + 4xT5, Aquamaxx ConeS CO-1 skimmer, Vertex Zeo Reactor, Chiller, MRC Calc Reactor fed by Cole-Palmer Masterflex... Stock: Regal Angel, Pair Mitratus

01/17/2010, 06:39 PM	#5
tahoe61 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: On the state line Posts: 730	Flat worms You will need to do a large water change after using flatworm exit, and if you have any starfish I would remove them before tx.

01/17/2010, 07:32 PM	#6
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	Like others said, try to remove as many as possible and then treat with flatworm exit and then a large water change. You might need more than one treatment of flatworm exit. This article might help too. http://www.melevsreef.com/flatworms.html __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

01/17/2010, 06:35 PM	#3
JGHA Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Guadalajara Posts: 116	They are flatworms, horrible pest. You will have to remove some manually and when you have very few left you may use flatworm exit. Dont use flat worm exit if you have many left in your tank as they release toxins when they die.

01/17/2010, 06:37 PM	#4
JGHA Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Guadalajara Posts: 116	And also yellow coris wrasse may eat them as well as mandarin gobies and pipe-fish but it is almost impossible to eradicate them using fish.

01/18/2010, 12:17 AM	#7
ronbis Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Broomfield, Colorado Posts: 222	Ugghh.. I have been reading some horror stories about getting rid of these things. I just setup a new nano with some rocks from this tank. I scrubbed them with a toothbrush but doubt I got them all. I think it should be safe to treat the nano since I know the number of flatworms will be low. The big tank is going to take some work it looks like. I will start siphoning flatworms tomorrow I guess... Thanks for the help and wish me luck!

01/18/2010, 01:40 PM	#8
tplummer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 156	If you lose the battle try increasing flow. They still live in your tank but show up less.. I could never get rid of them.